Take time to remember what Memorial Day is really about
War is one of those seemingly necessary evils in our society.
Today – Memorial Day – is when we pause to remember those who lost their lives fighting for the United States. It’s a day to put aside our political differences and personal beliefs that led to the deaths of these men and women.
These lost lives are no less significant because we don’t agree on what led to their deaths. They died fighting for what our government deemed a worthy cause.
Don’t blame the soldiers for the job they do. If you disagree with the battles being fought, then deal with the lawmakers. The soldiers who keep marching, keep training, keep fighting – they deserve our respect and our thanks.
Memorial for South Lake Tahoe men who died in the Iraq conflict. Photo/LTN file
Lake Tahoe News takes this time to salute those who given the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
The ones who died deserve a moment of silence today – and more often. Take a moment from your long weekend and remember that many people have an empty chair at the picnic table today.
Go to one of the many ceremonies at the cemeteries and military halls. Place a flag on the marker of a grave of a soldier. Toast to those who are not with us.
Hardly any community has not been touched by the death of a soldier – including Lake Tahoe.
Some died in combat. Some died in training.
Those who aren’t listed are the ones who took their lives because they did not know any other way to conquer the demons they were ravaged by.
Not all of those who died volunteered to serve in one of the branches of the military. But those who join one of the branches today do so willingly. That is to be commended – especially in the world we live in today. Most of these people will see a tour of duty overseas in hostile areas where U.S. citizens are not always welcome.
It is naïve to think the numbers of military deaths will ever be nil. But we must not ever forget those who have died fighting to make the world a better, safer, more livable place.
The Washington Post keeps a running list of those who have died in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. While news sites seem to keep these conflicts off the front pages, they are always front and center for the thousands of families who worry each day that the dreaded call will come saying their loved one has died.
We owe it those who have died to not forget them.
Below is a list of the wars, or whatever the government chose to call it, where the U.S. engaged in combat, the dates of the struggle, and the number of people the country lost in the fight. Of course, the numbers in the last two categories keeps growing.
Conflict Dates of conflict Number of casualties
War of Independence 1775-1783 25,000
Northwest Indian War 1785-1795 1,221
Quasi-War 1798-1800 20
Barbary Wars 1801-1815 35
War of 1812 1812-1815 20,000
1st Seminole War 1817-1818 30
2nd Seminole War 1835-1842 1,500
Mexican-American War 1846-1848 13,283
3rd Seminole War 1855-1858 26
Civil War 1861-1865 623,026
Indian Wars 1865-1898 919
Spanish-American War 1898 2,446
Philippine War 1898-1902 4,196
Boxer Rebellion 1900-1901 37
Mexican Revolution 1914-1919 35
Haiti Occupation 1915-1934 146
World War 1 1917-1918 116,708
World War 2 1941-1945 407,316
Korean War 1950-1953 36,914
Vietnam War 1964-1973 58,169
El Salvador 1980-1992 20
Beirut 1982-1984 266
Persian Gulf “Support” 1987-1988 39
Invasion of Grenada 1983 19
Invasion of Panama 1989 40
Persian Gulf War 1991 269
Somalia 1992-1993 43
Bosnia 1995 12
Afghanistan 2002-2011 1,571
Iraq 2003-2011 4,442.